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Youth Prevention - TATU

Teens Against Tobacco Use (TATU), is a peer-education program in which middle and high school students are trained to teach elementary school students about the hazards of tobacco use.

TATU logo

A program that challenges teens to answer:

  • Why has the tobacco industry spent over $100 million in Washington State alone advertising their product? And why are youth their main target?
  • Why is tobacco, the only product on the market that used as intended will hurt or kill you, still legal?
  • Why are cigarette ingredients not listed on the pack?
  • How is tobacco the number one cause of preventable death?

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TATU Newsletter

Read our current TATU Newsletter and discover what TATU teens in your area are doing.

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What is currently happening around the state with TATU?

Project Awards

Project Award funds will be available in the Fall of 2009.  Check back on October 1st for more information on how to apply.

Winners:

View our 2008-2009 TATU Project Award winners.

Teens Against Tobacco AbUse

NA TATU logoThe TATU program has been adapted to reflect the role of traditional tobacco use in Native American culture. Teens Against Tobacco AbUse helps tribal and urban Indian youth prevent the abuse of tobacco in their communities. For more information contact Cindy Thompson at cthompson@alaw.org or  (509) 325-6516 .

The TATU program has also been adapted for Latino communities in Washington state. The adaptation incorporates the rich history of the Latino culture into a relevant tobacco prevention Latino Manual Logoprogram for today's Latino youth. Some forms and activities have been translated into Spanish. For more information contact Cindy Thompson.

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How can I implement TATU in my community/school?

In order to implement TATU, your community/school needs to send interested adult program facilitator(s) to an all-day training sponsored by the American Lung Association® in Washington.

We would need commitments for:

  • One or two adult program facilitators, and
  • One school program coordinator that would be in direct communication with the American Lung Association® (this person can be one of the facilitators).

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Interested in becoming a TATU facilitator?

Fill out our registration form (for WA residents only) and a TATU coordinator from your region will contact you about the next training.

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What does the adult TATU facilitator's training involve?

The adult facilitator's training includes:

  • One TATU facilitator's manual and program packet (per facilitator)
  • Copies of the program evaluation component
  • A Certificate of Completion
  • Support from the American Lung Association® office during program implementation

The adult TATU facilitator's training covers the following topics:

  • Tobacco 101
  • How to recruit TATU peer educators
  • How to manage the TATU program and TATU peer educators
  • How to develop an action plan and market TATU to elementary schools and community groups
  • How to evaluate the effectiveness of the TATU program

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What does the teen TATU facilitators training involve?

Using hands-on activities and plenty of interaction with the other teens, this training is fun, busy and exciting. It prepares youth to create their own tobacco prevention presentation for elementary school children. They get to be as creative as they want - posters, raps, skits, videos, game shows, etc.!

The youth training workshop agenda includes:

  1. Welcome and Introductions
  2. Community Building
  3. TATU Overview
  4. Learning about your Audience
  5. Risk Awareness
  6. Video Time
  7. Truth in Advertising
  8. Using the Facts
  9. Planning Presentations
  10. Developing an Action Plan

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Upcoming TATU trainings:

Date Location Contact

October 2, 2009 Dayton Middle School     Cheryl McDonald
October 15, 2009 Arlington, WA Monica Nelson
October 21, 2009 Yakima, WA Jackie Diaz 
October 26, 2009 Oak Harbor, WA  Monica Nelson
November 3 & 5, 2009  Peninsula High School Cristal Connelly
November 4, 2009  Evergreen Elementary, Evergreen, WA Monica Nelson
November 9, 2009  Oak Harbor Hills, Oak Harbor, WA Monica Nelson 
November 11, 2009 Yakima, WA Jackie Diaz 
November 12, 2009  Lynwood High School, Lynwood, WA  Monica Nelson 
November 13, 2009  Mary Walker High School, Springdale, WA  Cheryl McDonald 
November 16, 2009  LaConner Middle School, Laconner, WA  Monica Nelson 
November 16-17, 2009  Clarkston, WA  Cheryl McDonald
November 18, 2009  YMCA, Yakima, WA   
November 18, 2009 Curtis Jr. High (University Place) Cristal Connelly
November 19, 2009 Pacific County  Colleen Wahto 
November 24, 2009  Spokane Tribe, Wellpinit Longhouse, Wellpinit, WA  Cheryl McDonald 
December 9, 2009  Granger, WA  Jackie Diaz  
December 9, 2009  Kalispel Tribe, Tribal Wellness Center, Usk, WA  Cheryl McDonald 
December 16, 2009  YMCA, Yakima, WA  Jackie Diaz  
December 17, 2009  Kettle Falls Middle School, Colville, WA  Cheryl McDonald 
January 6-7, 2010  Columbia High School   
February 2, 2010  Clark County Training, ESD 112  Colleen Wahto 
February 10, 2010  ESD 123, Pasco, WA  Jackie Diaz   

The trainings listed above have been independently scheduled and are intended for only those schools and/or school districts listed.  To schedule a training for your school or community group, please contact the TATU Coordinator listed below from your area.  Back to top.

Become a TATU Coordinator

For more information please contact your local TATU coordinator:

Cheryl McDonald Eastern WA
Jackie Diaz South Central
Hailey Croci North Central
Monica Nelson Western WA
Cristal Connelly South Puget Sound
Colleen Wahto Southwest WA

Coordinator Distribution Map


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